The historic Anchor Brewing Company, located near downtown San Francisco, is both a place of heritage and state-of-the-art. It is possibly the best stop for wine country tourists interested in learning about the history of contemporary American craft beer.

Founder Fritz Maytag took over the old, failing Anchor Brewery in the 1960s and helped transform an industry. His Anchor Brewing Company was the forerunner of America’s craft brewing revolution.

The Anchor Brewing Company’s brewery tour is as good a brewery tour as you will find anywhere. You don’t want to miss it, so be sure to schedule your tour time well ahead of your visit.

The brewery taproom is where you congregate before and after a tour. It is large and gorgeous with dark wood paneling and historic photographs on the walls. Pieces of old brewing equipment are on display in a museum-like atmosphere. It

The Beers

Anchor Steam Beer is the quintessential American beer. Brewed with lots of malt and a nice dose of hop flavor, this unique amber ale/lager hybrid is viewed by many as the only unique New World beer style. It was Anchor’s original beer (dating from the 1890s) and has a great history and heritage. Don’t miss out on trying one fresh from the brewery tap following a tour.

Liberty Ale is another standard setting beer and was among the first modern beers that utilized the now common dry hopping technique. A very good west-coast style pale ale.

Anchor Porter is one of the best American porters in the very dark-roasted, chocolate-coffee style. it is so rich, tasty and smooth that it is impossible not to love.

Anchor Summer Beer was another first for the brewery. When introduced, it was the first modern American wheat beer. Brewed with 50% wheat and 50% malted barley, it is light and crisp, perfect for warm weather days.

History and future of craft brewing

Location

You will find Anchor Brewing a little south of downtown on the corner of Mariposa and De Haro. On street parking is available in the area, but a close spot may be hard to find. The #19 and #22 Muni bus routes stop within two blocks of the brewery front door and are a good option.

Tours: Tours are conducted twice on weekdays by reservation only. They are very popular and dates fill up quite far in advance. Call at least two months ahead to schedule your tour date. Tour and tasting takes about 2 hours. During the tasting portion samples of all current Anchor beers are offered. The tour is free. Use this link for more information.

Tasting: The brewery taproom is open only to those with tour reservations. Otherwise, you can sample Anchor beers at just about any San Francisco area restaurant or bar.

Anchor Brewing is pretty easy to locate just a bit south of downtown S.F. It sits at the corner of Mariposa and De Haro. Parking is available on street and the Muni bus stops within a block or two.

The exterior of the Anchor Brewing Company is a large classy looking structure that once housed Chase & Sanborn Coffee Co.

The Anchor taproom dispenses beers fresh from the brewery. Beer will never taste any better.

The Taproom

Anchor Brewing Company does not have a restaurant. The tasting room is open only to those with tour reservations and includes a brewery store where you can purchase a wide array of Anchor branded clothing and bar paraphernalia.

Anchor’s unique bottles and labels are immediately recognizable. Like sourdough bread and cable cars, Anchor Steam Beer is a unique San Francisco experience. No visit to the Bay Area is complete without it.